Sounds good. I add in an interim inflate of each of the tube chambers to about 100mbar... just a personal thing to go that extra step to looking after the baffles.

Thanks for the quick reply, I just spoke to somebody on the phone who has told me to start with the port and just go round in a clockwise direction and slowly take them up to pressure port - bow - stbd and told me it doesnít matter which way the baffles go, I was under the impression that it did matter, now Iím confused haha

I was led to believe the baffles are glued in with the seam on the forward side of the baffle so it was better to start at the bow and work aft. This minimised the risk of you peeling the baffle away from the tube.

I would have thought this was an obvious failure route so maybe they put a seam strengthener on the other side meaning it doesn't matter from which side you inflate it.

Well if you think about it the baffles are a safety design and you have no way of knowing which tube you might puncture leaving the adj ones to full pressure. So the baffles should cope with pressure from either direction. I think its fine as long as you do a variation of the gradual inflate you mention or I do.

For completeness perhaps its worth mentioning that I have had two inflatable boats which must have the baffles pointing in a certain direction. The manuals with both boats clearly indicated the sequence.

The Frib and an second hand Lodestar I had a few years ago. Both boats were fitted with pressure release valves which is why an inflation sequence should be followed.

Example the Frib has release valves on the rear chambers. The Front chambers don’t have one fitted.

The rear chamber is finally pressurized before the front chamber so the baffle is pointing forward. (still inflate all chambers in steps) In the event of the sun heat over pressurizing the boat .. the release valves operate and release pressure from the rear chambers. The Front chambers equalise pressure by moving the baffle backwards. If the front chamber was pressurised first the baffle could not move backwards so the front would not be protected.

If memory serves me right,,the Lodestar had the relief valve on the front chamber .. so it had to be inflated first so that its baffles pointed into the rear chambers.

I believe the Excel Vanguard range of inflatable’s also have a pressure relief valve in the front chamber similar to the Lodestar.. (although I may be wrong in thinking that) ..but their website advertises they do. If so..it will also matter on the sequence of inflation.

So beware if your boat is fitted with pressure release valves. it matters which way the baffle points for the release valve to protect all chambers